Author(s): Nitesh Kumar Singh and Anand Prakash Singh

Abstract: The present study intended to evaluate the effect of insoluble Zn sources when applied with and without zinc solubilizing bacteria, on the growth and zinc content of the wheat crop. For this purpose, a pot experiment was designed and conducted during 2016-17 and 2017-18 using factorial completely randomized design (FCRD). Three zinc compounds (ZnSO₄ (Zn₁), ZnO (Zn₂), and ZnCO₃ (Zn₃)) with two distinct doses (1 mg kg^-1 (D₁) and 2 mg kg^-1 (D₁) Zn) were used in the experiment. In response to ZSB application, the data revealed an increase in wheat growth and, as a result, an increase in wheat yields also. Significant differences among the effects of sources and bacterial inoculations were noticed during the experiment. Performance of all the Zn sources including ZnSO₄ was found to improve when applied with ZSB. In contrast to the control, all isolates resulted in a nearly 1.5- to 2-fold increase in Zn content in grains and straw. In case of zinc solubilizing bacteria, inoculation of ZSB₂ showed best results as compared to other two sources. It was concluded that the application of ZnSO₄ @ 2 mg kg^-1 Zn along with ZSB₂ was had the best zinc management strategy to conflict the zinc deficiency.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i3Sf.777